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Junior left teammate hanging

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There's in-car audio of Jeff Gordon expressing displeasure over how Dale Earnhardt Jr. handled a drafting opportunity in Sunday's Cup race. Gordon thought Earnhardt Jr. could have helped him out more, now that they're teammates. Gordon is probably right, and who knows, if you showed Earnhardt Jr. film of it after the fact he might even agree he hung his fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver out. Earnhardt Jr. could have been reacting to something in terms of how it impacted him and his car and made a move that might not have helped Gordon. Or, he simply might have made a mistake. Either way, again that's happening faster than you can imagine it. Not everybody's going to get it right every time, no matter what his good intentions might be.

Charlotte Observer

Dale Earnhardt Jr. , Nick Laham/Getty Images Dale Earnhardt Jr. , Nick Laham/Getty Images
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May 1, 2008  07:21 AM ET

I HATE mingling w/Horses. I report this jerk everyday...SI needs to stop the marketing crap.

I think Jr might be just a little more concerned (desperate) about a win than helping teammates right now. Those Toys hooked up real nicey nice.

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May 1, 2008  07:52 AM ET

****? what the hay?

May 1, 2008  08:30 AM ET

I had this same thought about Jr. and Gordon. Of course, Gordon haters will just say he's whining.

May 1, 2008  08:57 AM ET

If any of you were to read the comments Gordon said
on Nascar.com = he said HE made Bad disions

May 1, 2008  08:59 AM ET

Daisy,

It's hard to have an affair when you are not married!!!

May 1, 2008  09:00 AM ET

(( decisions )) ALL day,sorry I hit the wrong key

May 1, 2008  09:14 AM ET

Does anyone have any cheese?!?

May 1, 2008  09:37 AM ET

jr is without a doubt the most overrated driver in nascar in this modern era .................he is not his daddy as much as people would like him to be ...........................it aint gonna happen........................he is a good driver not a great driver

May 1, 2008  09:57 AM ET

This article is annoying.....not everything is an intentional "disregard"......I watched all the race and everyone had a hard time in the "sucker hole" and several drivers made moves that did not go as intended and therefore did not help a teammate.......from what I could see, none of it was intentional (except for the Biffel - Jr thing, but Biffle was under no obligation to help Jr )
I can't even imagine the horrible pressure Jr is uner to get a win, and more so at some tracks than others, and Dega is a more so track. Jr was probably too busy arguing with Eury LOL

May 1, 2008  10:08 AM ET

Do you think that Junior even likes Jeff because I don't!

May 1, 2008  10:10 AM ET

lydia lipshitz has it right. jr. is way over rated as a driver. Good kid and great pr for NASCAR but not the dirver everyone wants him to be. the best thing about him is he is down to earth and never makes excuses.

ColoradoMike

May 1, 2008  10:11 AM ET

I think Jr and Jeff are friends, more so now than last year. (not like Jr and Tony), but definitely on good terms.
This is the media hyping a non existant problem.

May 1, 2008  10:12 AM ET

Lydia, where were you when I had TD over this very topic. Jr. got what he got because he is Dale's son. He only wins on the tracks that you "can see the air" - Daytona and Talledega. Look who else wins at those tracks - Mikey wWltrip. Why, beacause Dale had something there. They cannot win anywhere else. Since Dale's passing, they cannot even win at those tracks anymore. Come on folks, think about it and realize the truth.

May 1, 2008  10:37 AM ET

ok.. this is kinda stupid... Dale Jr. had a better car that day than to be drafting with jeff gordon and trying to get to the front... he needs the win and thats just what he was going for.. so just let them be. they'll both make up and get over it... im sure they're probably fine already... jeff probably would have been holding dale jr back if he would have stuck with gordon... so just let them be.. its racing, and its nascar. enough of this stuff about teammates not drafting with eachother. just the them race and race and see how it comes out. we dont need to talk trash about them

May 1, 2008  10:45 AM ET

You know.......I think there is too many egos over at Hendrick and it's starting to show. Jr. not running with Gordon.......Gordon pushing a Toyota to the front instead of his teammate.......Johnson pushing a Dodge to the front and so on. Too many roosters in the hen house. Problem is, they are going to have to work better inthe future if the want to keep up with Toyota......I mean this team was supposed to be the Yankees of NASCAR.......the Evil Empire.......and so far they have been nothing less of a disappointment. After all, the only win they have came off a fuel gamble, not performance

May 1, 2008  10:49 AM ET

Bill just fyi Jr has 17 wins in his career with 3 at Ricmond 2 at Phoenix 1 at Dover and 1 at Bristol none of these would be your so-called "Air" tracks your obvious dislike for Jr. is evident but perhaps you should get your understanding of your facts correct

 
May 1, 2008  10:54 AM ET

They cannot win anywhere else. Since Dale's passing, they cannot even win at those tracks anymore. Come on folks, think about it and realize the truth.

Bill's Sabre

Wish I was there for the TD. There are many variables at play here. Your statement is just negative towards Jr...period. I think Jr is a better than average driver. A few breaks and he would be in first now....and 3rd is not too shabby. Bash all you want......No one is Dale Sr period!

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